Upon hearing this, the Old Madam looked at Qin Huaiyuan in disbelief. Having just cried for so long without shedding many tears, she suddenly burst into torrential weeping.

“You unfilial son, you’ve made up your mind to help your wife bully your mother! You’re saying now that I went to call them back? I only did so because I listened to you! If you were willing to go order them to return, one is your wife and one is your daughter – I don’t believe they would truly disobey your instructions! You yourself turn your elbow outward, and now you say such things to block my heart! Truly it’s ‘marry a wife and forget your mother’ – what sins have I committed!”

Qin Huaiyuan frowned helplessly.

As her son, he understood the Old Madam’s temperament best – when she had no reason, she would cry and make scenes. Since she faced only her own family members, the family would ultimately yield to the Old Madam out of various considerations, especially him, who couldn’t bear to see his mother cry herself sick.

Qin Huaiyuan could only gently persuade: “Mother speaks too severely – your son is merely stating facts. You gave instructions, and they returned – isn’t this a good thing?”

“A good thing? I was nearly angered to death by your wife – you call that a good thing?”

Qin Huaiyuan said helplessly: “Mother has forgotten that it was you who arranged your son’s marriage, and Sun Shi has done nothing wrong since entering our household.”

“Nothing wrong? She can’t bear a legitimate son – you call that nothing wrong?”

“She has already given birth to a legitimate daughter, proving it’s not that she cannot bear children.” Qin Huaiyuan was touched on a hidden pain in his heart, and his patience was nearly exhausted.

Seeing Qin Huaiyuan’s darkening expression, the Old Madam also realized what she had said in her urgency. Actually, the Old Madam somewhat suspected it might be Qin Huaiyuan’s problem, but since her son was extremely proud, she didn’t want to ask too much and hurt him.

Just then, a maid’s announcement came from the corridor: “Old Madam, the First Madam and Fourth Miss have returned.”

Immediately, the dark green warm curtain was lifted, and Qin Yining could be seen supporting Sun Shi as they entered.

Sun Shi had changed into everyday dark green plain fitted jacket, still wearing her hair in a chignon with a silver hairpin.

Qin Yining wore a cream-colored jacket and skirt, her long hair arranged in twin flat chignons with silk ribbons.

Neither mother nor daughter wore cosmetics, but both carried the elegant and pleasant jasmine fragrance.

That was the scent of Beauty Workshop’s jasmine water.

The Old Madam felt both sour and angry in her heart. Having just cried, her emotions were unsettled, so she glared fiercely at Sun Shi and turned her head away.

Sun Shi was angered by the Old Madam’s behavior and fire rose in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, she felt Qin Yining pinch her arm. Sun Shi immediately understood, took a deep breath to forcibly suppress her anger, and came forward with Qin Yining to pay respects to the Old Madam.

“This daughter-in-law greets the Old Madam.”

“Your granddaughter pays respects to the Old Madam. At the Old Madam’s single command, Mother disregarded her health and hurried back.”

The Old Madam was so angry her heart pounded like drums, and she snorted coldly: “Didn’t you say you refused to return? First deceiving me by saying you wouldn’t come, and now you’ve returned – you’re clearly toying with this old woman!”

Sun Shi bit her lip and lowered her head, her face already red with anger.

Qin Yining curtsied: “Old Madam, please calm your anger – you’re overthinking. These days Mother has been ill, resting outside also considering the aspect of avoiding contagion. Since the Old Madam cares for Mother, how could we fail to appreciate such kindness.”

“Glib-tongued – I can’t out-argue you!” The Old Madam angrily slapped the table.

Qin Yining pressed her lips together aggrievedly and also lowered her head.

Qin Huaiyuan pinched the bridge of his nose: “You should return first. Don’t disturb Mother’s peace here.”

“Yes.” Sun Shi and Qin Yining readily complied, performed courtesy, and withdrew.

Qin Huaiyuan also performed courtesy: “Mother, please rest well. Your son still has government affairs to handle.”

Seeing that Qin Huaiyuan was about to take his leave, the Old Madam couldn’t even bother with being angry: “That broken snuff bottle, how do you plan to…”

“Mother.” Qin Huaiyuan covered the Old Madam’s mouth and lowered his voice: “How can Mother still dare to shout about such things? Just pretend this incident never happened!”

The Old Madam’s heart suddenly jumped.

She had only been thinking about clearing herself and had forgotten that if this matter came to light, it would affect the survival of the entire Qin family.

The Old Madam’s face turned deathly pale as she nodded, no longer daring to make a fuss.

Qin Huaiyuan sighed: “His Majesty has bestowed many gifts, and the Empress Dowager had many possessions too. This item might not have been particularly noted when the imperial family bestowed it, and no one will actively come to ask us about it. You should just pretend you know nothing.”

The Old Madam nodded repeatedly, as obedient as a young child.

Qin Huaiyuan performed courtesy to the Old Madam again and withdrew.

Watching Qin Huaiyuan walk away, the Old Madam said quietly: “Lu Juan, do you think I did wrong?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Qin was already nodding silently in her heart, but said aloud: “The Old Madam was thinking of the family. How could that be wrong?”

The Old Madam shook her head and sighed, the gold-inlaid ruby hair ornament on her chignon swaying and appearing particularly dazzling in the candlelight.

“Actually, I shouldn’t have pretended to know about the snuff bottle incident at all – I shouldn’t have asked Meng Ge’er. Meng Ge’er is very clever – he might have guessed something, otherwise he wouldn’t have spoken to me that way.”

So the Old Madam regretted this matter?!

Nanny Qin was momentarily speechless and could only pick things the Old Madam liked to hear for comfort.

On Qin Huaiyuan’s side, after leaving the Compassionate Filial Garden, he didn’t immediately go to the outer courtyard but first returned to Xingning Garden. As he expected, after Qin Yining had escorted Sun Shi back, she stayed to chat with Sun Shi and hadn’t left.

Qin Huaiyuan dismissed the servants, and when only the family of three remained in the room, he asked: “Yining, did you really break a snuff bottle today?”

Qin Yining nodded obediently and recounted the day’s events, finally saying: “The Old Madam must have been too angry and wanted to hit my mother. Unexpectedly, when I went to intervene, the item was knocked away by the Old Madam during our struggle.”

Qin Huaiyuan frowned and sighed: “Was it really the Empress Dowager’s snuff bottle?”

“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled slyly. “It was the same style as the Empress Dowager’s snuff bottle.”

Seeing her fox-like expression, Qin Huaiyuan momentarily felt torn between laughter and tears. He instantly understood the cause and effect, pointed at Qin Yining’s forehead: “You girl are thoroughly wicked, even daring to trick your grandmother.”

Qin Yining touched her forehead, which didn’t hurt at all, and playfully stuck out her tongue.

“Father, please don’t be angry. Your daughter wasn’t targeting the Old Madam specifically. The snuff bottle incident Father heard about probably differs from the true situation your daughter described. Your daughter did this merely as harmless intimidation. Otherwise, when you’re not home, wouldn’t my mother suffer losses?”

Qin Huaiyuan looked gently at Sun Shi.

Sun Shi had long been shocked by the way this father and daughter interacted. Seeing Qin Huaiyuan look at her, she smiled awkwardly: “This… Master, please don’t be angry. It was all this concubine’s foolish idea.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and waved his hand: “I know this idea must have come from Yining – you needn’t cover for her. You’re an honest person, unlike Yining who has a head full of schemes.”

Sun Shi didn’t know how to respond.

But Qin Yining snorted: “Is Father praising your daughter?”

Qin Huaiyuan patted Qin Yining’s shoulder and couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Nanny Jin, Cai Ju, and Song Lan nearby also laughed along.

Cao Yuqing stood under the corridor, listening to the cheerful laughter from inside the room. Her facial expression was very calm as she called out loudly: “Marquis, Madam, this concubine has come specifically to pay respects to Madam.”

The laughter in the room stopped abruptly, followed by Qin Huaiyuan’s indifferent voice: “Come in.”

Cao Yuqing composed herself and slowly entered.